Sakai named vice chancellor for administrative affairs

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Chancellor Donald Straney announced that Dr. Marcia Sakai has been named vice chancellor for administrative affairs. Sakai will assume her permanent duties on June 1, 2012.

Since June 2011, Sakai has served as interim vice chancellor for administrative affairs.

“Dr. Sakai has demonstrated the outstanding leadership qualities that this position demands and has made progress toward improving campus-wide efficiency in several areas under the administrative affairs unit,” Straney said.

Sakai has been a UH Hilo faculty member in Business Administration and Economics since 1991 and holds the rank of professor in tourism and economics. She served as interim dean of the College of Business and Economics when the college was established in 2004 and was appointed dean in 2005. She led the college through its initial accreditation by AACSB – International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

During her tenure, technology improvements and upgrades through the Office of Technology and Distance Learning have resulted in 85 percent of wireless coverage across the campus. Several classrooms on campus were also upgraded to multimedia smart classrooms.

“Dr. Sakai is a leader in the campus’ effort to encourage energy conservation and expenditure savings by reducing energy use through the establishment of an energy management plan,” Straney added.

For the winter break period of December 17, 2011 through January 2, 2012, the reduced use of energy resulted in an estimated savings of $68,493. The energy management plan includes installing and monitoring sub-meters for all buildings and partnering with Hawaiʻi Community College and community entities to pursue energy-savings initiatives.